[2] The show debuted on May 11, 2016, and streamed Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday each week worldwide on Netflix.

[7][better source needed] The show covered "real topics" mixed with humor, similar to Handler's previous series, Chelsea Does.

[10] Chelsea is part of Handler's deal with Netflix that she made in July 2015, which included a stand-up special titled Uganda Be Kidding Me Live[11][12][13] and a four-part docu-comedy special called Chelsea Does.

On March 16, 2016, Handler announced on Twitter that each episode would be released at 12:01 a.m. Pacific Time on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday mornings, three times a week, including holiday periods where episodes would be "banked" for release or reduced to airing two per week.

[10] Though Handler claims to have made the decision, sources speculate at the significance of the poor reception of the show since its debut.

[17] The site's critic consensus claims: "Chelsea comes up short in its attempts to innovate the conventional talk show format – and even worse, it frequently fails to be smart or funny.